Dan Pompei of National Football Post wrote in his Sunday Blitz column today that running back Knowshon Moreno "may be a former Bronco before long." Pompei acknowledges that Moreno played well in the second half of last season, filling in for an injured Willis McGahee, but he also questions Moreno's effort during his time in Denver. Moreno is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and that carries a $3.28 million hit against the salary cap.

Fantasy Analysis:

Moreno hasn't played up to the expected level of a first-rounder and nor come close to surpassing the numbers of his 2009 rookie campaign. In the past two seasons, he has been a clear second fiddle to the much older McGahee and suffered a torn ACL. The money, the effort, the lack of production will all play a role in the Broncos' decision on whether to keep or release Moreno. But I think it also has to depend on their trust level in Ronnie Hillman. McGahee, 31, has two years remaining on his deal and should be back. The Broncos need that change-of-pace runner to confuse defenses and give McGahee plenty of breathers. If the team is ready to hand Hillman those responsibilities, then yeah, Moreno probably has played his final down with Denver.